Linking Words

Linking words are essential for your writing to be natural and clear. Linking devices vary in three ways:

1. Position in the text.

Some linking words normally form a link between clauses WITHIN a sentence. It is bad style to start a sentence
with these words:

 And, but, so, because, then, until, such as, are examples of this type of linking word.
Another type of linking device is used to form a link BETWEEN sentences. These words must start with a capital
letter and are usually immediately followed by a comma:
 Furthermore, Moreover, However, Nevertheless, Therefore, In conclusion, are used in this way.
Most linking words, however, can either start a sentence or form a link between sentences. The choice is up to
the writer.

2. The function of linking words

Linking devices are neither nouns, nor verbs. They provide a text with cohesion and illustrate how the parts of
the text relate to each other. Here are some of the functions which linking words provide.
Adding extra information to the main point, contrasting ideas, expressing cause and effect, showing exactly
when something happened (narrating), expressing purpose (why?) and opinion, listing examples, making
conclusions and giving emphasis.

3. Grammatical differences

 Some linking words must be followed by a clause (Subject + Verb + Object).

E.g.. while, why, because, although, so, whereas, when

 Other linking words should be followed by a noun phrase (Linking word + (the) + Noun/Pronoun or
gerund)
E.g.. because of, despite, during, in spite of
 The majority of linking devices can be followed by either a noun phrase or a clause.

Here is a list of the principal linking words in English, their function and if their position is usually fixed.

Linking words

Adding and Contrasting Expressing cause / reason

*and *but because
as well as However, as
besides Although since
Moreover, despite This is why
Furthermore, In spite of because of
What is more, Nevertheless, Due to
In addition, On the contrary, Owing to
not only .... but also on the one hand For this reason,
another point is that on the other hand, Expressing effect / result
relative clauses whereas *so
who where while so....that
that ,which but while such a...that
whose to whom In contrast, Therefore
when what Neither...nor Thus
why Consequently,
As a result,
too...for/to
not enough...for/to
 Narration Expressing purpose
First (of all)
immediately
At first
Once to
At the beginning
Suddenly so as to
In the beginning
As soon as in order that
then
on so that
next
No sooner....than for (Non-specific)
Before
Hardly...when Expressing opinion
After
Finally I would say that
After that
Eventually In my opinion,
afterwards
At the end I think (that)
When
In the end I believe (that)
While
At last Personally
during
To begin with, Apparently,
Soon
Until
prior to

Giving examples Summing up / concluding Emphasis

for example, All in all especially
for instance, overall particularly
For one thing, generally Naturally,
this includes In conclusion, exactly because
such as e.g.. (for example) on the whole above all
i.e. (that is) in the main Whatever
To sum up, Whenever
too / enough
The more ....

* Avoid starting a sentence with these words.

The linking words beginning with a capital letter often start a sentence, For those without, position in a sentence
is optional.